The West St. Paul/Mendota Heights Rotary Club 
Having fun while making a difference!
 
Chartered 1990
Stories
Last week's speaker
From President Jennifer's Facebook post to our club's site:  
Welcome Deanna Baisch from Open Door Pantry! A Dakota County based food shelf and so much more!
The Pantry feeds 15-20,000 people/ families each month and is considered one of the Top 5 food shelves in the state!
The magnitude of the need and the execution from this non-profit is unbelievable!
They served over 35,000 in January 2026!! Wow!
Help if you can-food, money and volunteers needed
Thank you Traci for bringing in such a great speaker and cause!!
Pictured with Rotarian Traci (left) is Deanna.
Winter Plunge Fundraiser
February 28 at Lakeside Memorial Park, Forest Lake. Come watch Traci, Cody and Jon take the plunge for our club!  Jon announced at last week's meeting that the Heartland Credit Union will match donations to him.  Donate at https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6911459
 
From Kate Bishop at the Link
Dear West Saint Paul-Mendota Heights Rotary,
Thank you for your generous donation of 100 snack packs! You are helping us provide life-changing opportunities to The Link's youth and families, and for that, we are immensely grateful. 
With your support this year:
  • Over 2,000 youth and families across the Twin Cities metro will access resources, heal from trauma, and build brighter futures
  • More than 300 youth and young families will transition out of homelessness and into stable housing 
  • Survivors of sex trafficking will transition into safety, healing, and empowerment through shelter, housing, and 24/7 crisis response
  • Nearly 600 youth will receive intensive case management support through our juvenile justice alternative programs
We are honored to call you a partner in this work to end youth homelessness, sexual exploitation/trafficking, and involvement in unjust systems. Thank you for your generosity and investment in a future where every young person can thrive! 
With gratitude,
Kate
Share the love giving opportunity

February Is the Month to Share the Love

Support Rotary’s Life-Changing Work
February is the month we celebrate love — and what better way to do that than by sharing our passion for Rotary’s impact. When you support the Rotary International Foundation, you help fund life-changing projects that strengthen communities and change lives around the world. 
Since its founding more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has invested over $4 billion in sustainable, life-changing projects.
Let’s Finish Strong!
This year, District 5960 has set an ambitious — yet achievable — goal of raising $500,000. Where we are now: $244,000 What we need: Your help to cross the finish line!

Your Gift Comes Home
A gift to the Annual Fund – SHARE does more than support global projects — almost half of every donation comes back to our district

February Giving Incentives
Earn Paul Harris Fellow Recognition
Special matching recognition points are available in February:
  • $100–$364 - 1-to-1 recognition point match
  • $365 - 635 points toward Paul Harris Fellow (PHF)
  • Rotary Direct: Sign up for $30/month - 500 recognition points

Every Gift Matters

No matter the size, every donation brings us closer to our goal and strengthens Rotary’s ability to do good in the world.

This February —Share the Love.
   
 
Next board meeting is March 17, 7:30a.m. via zoom
Please let Dave Hanson know if any members would like to attend.
Speaker Assignments for January to June 2026
Jan: David Miller and Jeff Holland
Feb: Tim Spitzack & Tom Atmore
March: Alan Ruvelson & Jon Smale
April: Peter Olson-Skog
May: Traci Leffner & Val Namen
June: Terry Davern & Jennifer Giovinazzo
Club Approves Cody Semo as President Elect
Congratulations and thank you Cody for being our 2026-2027 President!
We now have full access to our club's Facebook page!
We now have the ability to update our Facebook page.  Please take pictures or videos and text them to Jennifer Giovinazzo at 651-249-4789.
Fundraising Committee needs ideas!
Rotarian Jon is heading up our club's Fundraising Committee.  Please let him know if you have any fundraising ideas and/or would like to join his committee!
New Members Wanted
Do you enjoy our weekly meetings?  Share them with others.  Be on the lookout for prospective members!
Club meetings
We meet at 7:30 Wednesday mornings at Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church located at 2035 Charlton Road, Sunfish Lake, MN 55118. Join us for a continental breakfast with good coffee followed by an engaging program.  On even number months, we meet at 7:30a at the Copperfield restaurant in Mendota Heights.  (e.g. first Wed in Aug)
Speakers
Feb 25, 2026
DARTS
Mar 04, 2026
360 Communities
Mar 18, 2026
MN Latino Museum
Mar 25, 2026
Minnesota Humanities Center
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Loaves & Fishes at St. Matt's
St. Matthews Catholic Church
Mar. 03, 2026
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
 
Loaves & Fishes
St. Matthew's Catholic Church
Mar. 03, 2026
4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
 
Loaves & Fishes at St. Matt's
St. Matthews Catholic Church
Apr. 02, 2026
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
 
View entire list
Bulletin Editor
Dave Hanson
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